Fuel prices show no signs of dropping and hybrid automobiles are often hyped as the answer to improve fuel economy. That fact is, there are simple ways to get better fuel economy from your current car or truck and avoid the expense of buying a hybrid.

Here are a few easy ways to get hybrid-like fuel economy without buying a new car or changing your lifestyle.

* Simply follow the maintenance recommendations in your owner’s manual. An out-of-tune engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent. Always follow your car manufacturer’s suggested tune-up schedule.

* Upgrade your motor oil. You can save gas and improve performance by switching to high performance synthetic motor oil. According to independent tests, upgrading to Royal Purple motor oil improved fuel economy by as much as five percent and produced notable increases in horsepower and torque. The company’s Web site, www.royalpurple.com, has a ‘fuel-savings calculator’ that can show you how much money you can save annually by upgrading lubricants.

* Regularly replace your air filter. A clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. Air filters keep impurities from damaging the interior of the engine, so replacing dirty filters will save gas and protect your engine.

* Keep the tires of your vehicle properly inflated. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by up to six percent. One study estimates that 50 to 80 percent of the tires rolling on U.S. roads are under inflated. Astonishingly, we could save up to two billion gallons of gas each year simply by properly inflating our tires.

* Keep your gas cap on. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the road have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year according to “Auto Service Operator” magazine. A quick visual inspection of your gas cap every time you fill up is an easy, painless way to make sure your fuel is not vanishing into thin air.

To learn more, visit the following websites:

www.royalpurple.com
Web site of high performance lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple.

www.fueleconomy.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Web site dedicated to issues related to fuel economy.

www.gaspricewatch.com
A Web site that helps consumers find the lowest gas prices in there area.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(NC)-Hold your arms out at your sides like the person in this illustration, and imagine there’s the same kind of bubble around you. That’s roughly the space 1 kg of CO2 takes up - the amount produced by every litre of gasoline you burn. Gasoline and diesel - which are injected into the engine as a mist of fine droplets - require oxygen to burn. That oxygen comes from air, but air is only 21% oxygen. So it takes about 8,000 litres of air, weighing almost 12 kg, to burn 1 litre of gasoline or diesel. And with so much air involved in the process - and with gasoline and diesel both containing large amounts of carbon to begin with - a lot of CO2 comes out the other end. It’s chemistry. Source: Natural Resources Canada. More interesting tips on safe, fuel-efficient driving are available at ecoaction.gc.ca/vehicles.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

(NC)-Look for these modern technologies when shopping for a new or used vehicle and watch your fuel savings go up:

. Variable valve timing and lift: improves the flow of fuel and air during the engine cycle by varying the opening and closing of the engine valves depending on need. The technology can result in both greater power and better fuel efficiency.

. Cylinder deactivation allows V-6 and V-8 engines to operate as though they had fewer cylinders. While cylinder deactivation cannot decrease the weight of engines, it does reduce fuel consumption under light-load highway cruising conditions by only delivering fuel to activated cylinders.

. Gasoline and diesel direct injection uses sophisticated electronic fuel-flow and air-flow controls, and precision injectors which inject the fuel directly into the cylinder and optimize the ideal mixture of air and fuel during combustion.

. Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT’s don’t have a gearbox with a set number of gears, instead they typically operate on a pulley configuration that allows an infinite number of engine/wheel speed ratios. This technology results in better engine speed matching, ideal “gear” selection and improved fuel efficiency.

. Hybrid Technology: by combining an internal combustion engine with an electrical motor and battery pack, most hybrids today achieve improvements in fuel efficiency by using the electric motor to supplement engine power. Some hybrids can also operate exclusively using the electric motor at low speeds. Batteries do not require plugging in and are recharged by harnessing the energy from coasting, braking and from the engine.

. Electronic throttle control responds to changing engine conditions and precisely controls fuel combustion. Decreased amounts of unburned fuel result in improved fuel efficiency.

Natural Resources Canada has produced a myriad of helpful tips on fuel efficiency at ecoaction.gc.ca/vehicles.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

The Pontiac G6 is one of many GM vehicles that achieve better than 7L/100km on the highway.

(NC)-The environment has quickly become an important priority for many Canadians. In fact, fuel economy is now the second most important factor for drivers when considering a new vehicle purchase and recent polling revealed more than one quarter of Canadians view the environment as a top issue.

Automotive manufacturers continue to make improvements to the internal combustion engine to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce both smog and greenhouse gas emissions. Priority focus has also been placed on developing new, environmentally-friendly technologies including hybrids, bio-fuels, electric vehicles and fuel cells.

“GM Canada offers more green choices for consumers and we are taking an active role in developing environmental technologies,” says David Paterson, vice president, corporate and environmental affairs, General Motors of Canada. “GM is the green technology leader in Canada, engineering and manufacturing advanced environmental technologies ranging from active fuel management and hybrid systems to E85 biofuel and fuel cell vehicles.”

In addition to these new developments, there are steps drivers can take to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles every day:

1. Plan your trips and driving routes to avoid traffic congestion

2. Observe speed limits

3. Accelerate smoothly

4. Maintain steady speeds

5. Limit the use of accessories

6. Don’t carry more than you need

7. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained - proper tire pressure, clean your air filter etc.

For more information visit www.gmcanada.com.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

The fuel efficient Chevrolet Impala achieves better than 7L/100km highway fuel consumption and features advanced technology such as Active Fuel Management.

(NC)-According to a recent Stats Can report, the average Canadian spends more than an hour a day - or 12 full days a year - trekking to and from work. With these longer commute times, fluctuating gasoline prices and concerns about the environment; consumers and governments are looking for new automotive technologies that reduce emissions and save fuel.

While hybrids have received the majority of attention, many drivers may be surprised to know that improvements to regular gasoline engines are actually saving more fuel overall than the savings produced by small hybrid cars.

Cylinder deactivation technology, for example, is one of the largest contributors to total greenhouse gas reductions in Canada. This technology works by seamlessly shutting down half of the engine’s cylinders when they are not needed, such as highway driving.

General Motors’ application of this technology called Active Fuel Management (AFM), offers up to a 12 per cent or better fuel consumption improvement.

“GM Canada offers more green choices for consumers than any other manufacturer,” says David Paterson, vice president, corporate and environmental affairs for General Motors of Canada. “Technologies such as Active Fuel Management (AFM) have the potential to dramatically reduce fuel consumption and are available to drivers for no additional cost. Consider this - in the first half of 2007, more fuel was saved by the application of AFM on new GM vehicles in Canada (and therefore more greenhouse gas was reduced) than was saved by new hybrid vehicles sold by any competitor in the same time period.”

With drivers now focusing on saving fuel as well as helping to save the environment, the affordable technologies on the market today will enable Canadians to go green without going broke.

For more information visit www.gmcanada.com.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

We often grudgingly call them the gas guzzling monsters!!

But we can not do away with them alltogether.

Yes, I am talking about the heavy duty trucks. Road transportation is one of the most crucial part of any thriving economy and the most important component of road transport are the heavy duty trucks powered on diesel and contributing to a lion’s share of green house gases.

 

While you can not ban them off the road completely you can surely take measures to cut off their emissions and that is what the Environmental Protection Agency standards resolved  to do. In order to meet the EPA standard, the new truck models of 2007 are to be equipped with particulate matter filters that will result into a 90% cleaner vehicles with a significant cut on nitrogen oxide emissions than the previous generation models.

 

The cynicals have however doubted the efficacy of such an ambitious standard. But they were proved wrong when the The Diesel Technology Forum  announced just a few days ago that all major heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers have conformed to this  new standard for emissions cuts and received the certificate from the EPA for full production.

 

With the EPA certification now being mandatory, truck manufacturers will be able to produce cleanest diesel engines so far and that marks a milestone in the achievement for a cleaner environment. As the new trucks following EPA standard are replaced with their previous generation gas-guzzlers the total emissions of smog-forming gases are expected to be reduced by 2.6 million tons each year. In addition to that  soot emissions will also be scaled down to 110,000 tons annually.

 

Let’s check with the manufacturers that have passed the most rigorous standardization criteria; the names of EPA certified manufacturers include Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel Corp., International, Mack and Volvo. This certification implies that all these above mentioned manufacturers  abide by all the EPA stipulated emission standards regarded as the most stringent in the whole world.

 

To be doubly assured check out what Allen Schaeffer, the Diesel Technology Forum executive director has to say: “America’s long-haul truckers can be confident in the reliability and durability of these engines,” …The technology on these trucks has been engineered through millions of miles of testing, which has shown the performance, fuel economy and durability required to not only meet but exceed customer expectations.”

 

So next time you roam around  in the super market looking for the new arrivals in the shelves, you can rest assured that all the goods have been transported along the green route. However, experts are of the opinion that the benefits of EPA standard can not be optimized unless the government adopts some incentive based initiatives to slowly banish the old models from the road.

Governor Schwarzenegger Re-Affirms California’s Superiority in the Battle For Cleaner Environment

The movement for a greener transportation system received a mega boost yesterday, when Schwarzenegger signed an Executive Order on Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to reduce the level of greenhouse gases emitted by the automobiles.

This bold step makes the State of Californian a pioneer of sort in the battle against global warming and definitely becomes an eye-opener for the other US states. The right backdrop has already been there in the form of Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, aimed at curbing the greenhouse gas emissions.

What does the order aim to achieve?

Schwarzenegger in his Executive Order tried to portray the magnanimity of the pollution in the state—it was noted that California’s 24 million registered cars consumed 16 billion gallons of gasoline in 2005. The amount is even greater than the total fuel consumption of Japan having a population four times greater than that of California. The reason behind this high level of fuel consumption has been attributed to the small percentage of hybrid-car usage in the state. So the immediate aim of the new fuel standard seems to encourage the use of hybrid cars in the state.

So what consequences are we to expect?

This new fuel standard holds deeper significance for the oil giants like Chevron and Exxon Mobil; they have to sell lower carbon containing fuel in the state. That can be done either by upgrading their production process or by blending ethanol in the fuel. The companies like Pacific Gas & Electric (PCG) that sell cleaner electricity or biofuels are sure to benefit from LCFS.

The Order comes with yet another boon: According to the Governor’s Order, the state’s Environmental Protection Agency will collaborate with the California Energy Commission, the Air Resources Board and the University of California to implement the program. According to a University of California estimate, this can increase Gross State Product by about $60 billion and create over 20,000 new jobs.

Reactions

The industry heavy weights generally display a mood of cooperation: PG&E along with chemicals giant DuPont were quick to issue their reactions welcoming the Governor’s green dream.

The hybrid enthusiasts have enough reason to rejoice: The LCFS demands a cut in gasoline consumption by 20 percent. To meet with the standard, you have to replace traditional cars with  more than 7 million hybrid cars in the coming days…opined Robert Sawyer, chairman of the California Air Resources Board.

The die hard fans of Schwarzenegger may hope to call him the President Schwarzenegger someday….till then three cheers for our Governor for his diehard efforts for a greener world!!

Growing Interest in Streetcars in the USA

Traffic congestion!!  

Pollution!!

Soaring gas prices!!

Welcome to the reality of US urban living. Every sensible soul seems to be screaming, “Oh! Stop this chaos! Give me a break!’’

But where is the solution? While many people have come to see a possible solution to environmental hazards and fast diminishing energy storage–and their number is increasing day by day—in the hybrid cars, it is still the smaller segment of the population that is driving down the roads in expensive Toyota Priuses or Honda Accords.

In order to effectively tackle the environmental pollution caused by the vehicles, we must consider a complete revamp of the public transportation system. And the recent enthusiasm surrounding streetcars in the USA sparks off new hope in the minds of those concerned about the deteriorating environment.

The streetcars are not new phenomena in the USA; but people in the USA seem to suddenly wake up to its potential as the most environment friendly public vehicle only of late. The buzz is in the media too; everywhere you will come across the speculations about a possible comeback of the streetcars in the USA! (Check with USA Today)

You can already find the streetcars rambling through the tracks in San Francisco, Portland, Charlotte and New Orleans.

More and more cities— about three dozen of them- - including the cities like Tucson, Birmingham, Ala., Miami and Trenton are weighing up the pros and cons of investing in such a mode of transport.

Columbus is finally all geared up for its modern streetcar system.

The Minneapolis city’s 2007 budget includes the researches on revival of the streetcars in the city.

All these trends are pointing towards one definite trend: a resurrection of Streetcar system across the USA. And there is no reason why it should not be welcomed by the greater section of the population. Let’s just check its benefits:

• A passenger carrying capacity of a streetcar is lot higher than that of ordinary buses.
• The usage of fuel per passenger per mile is also lot lesser than any other means of public transport.
• Streetcar tracks can be installed sans expensive infrastructures like that is needed in building subways. As Shelley Poticha, the President and CEO of Reconnecting America likes to put it, “It can be built quickly, inexpensively, right into the street to get around without a car more easily.”
• Most important of all, they provide a pollution free means of transport as the electric streetcars offer you carbon free transit.

While a section of people worry over the possible tax hike following streetcar projects, the business community displays a generally upbeat response; in fact the projects are expected to fetch good amount of investment from the developers who see a possible tourist influx in the areas due to the appearance of the streetcars.

Different people have different reasons to rejoice over the revival of streetcars in the USA. As of us, thumbs up for those Mayors who are taking firm steps for reintroducing this pollution friendly transport system in their cities.

Bloomberg reported today that Detroit automakers are working on improving hybrid cars while Toyota pushes hybrid trucks, stating “General Motors Corp. promised to make a hybrid car that travels 40 miles on a battery before its gasoline engine kicks in. Ford Motor Co. introduced a redesigned Focus compact with a voice-activated music player to attract young buyers.”"Toyota Motor Corp., meanwhile, showed off a five-passenger, 381-horsepower pickup, while the star of Honda Motor Co.’s presentation was a sports car with a V-10 engine.”

In an odd twist, the Japanese aim for the big and powerful while American companies shy away from fuel guzzling trucks and SUVs.

This week Scientific American reported that there is a sufficient amount of power to switch from gas to electric.

They said that “Rumors of the electric car’s demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated, with so-called plug-in hybrids making the rounds from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., along with the sporty, new all-electric Tesla Roadster on offer. Now a new analysis from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) offers more good news: existing electric power plants could fuel 84 percent of ‘light duty’ vehicles if all 220 million cars and trucks converted to electric power overnight. ‘We’re delighted to see solid third-party confirmation of what the people who know best–the utilities–have been saying for sometime,’ says Felix Kramer, plug-in hybrid owner/evangelist and founder of Calcars.org.”

So there’s really no excuse not to start making the switch - it’s just amazing that the American government is not promoting this more, especially since so much of our money goes to some of their biggest enemies.

So what can you do?  Write your representatives at congress.org.